Connect Dahua Camera to homekit

Connect Dahua Camera to homekit – 5 ways

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” Innovation for All “ is What Dahua Products describes! With an exuberant range of security camera products, Dahua is affordable, reliable, and offers advanced features. If your Major concern is Security, these variety of different cameras are a must to look out for. Connect Dahua Camera to Homekit and create a Smart Home Accessibility in your surroundings.

We will walk you through the easiest possible ways to do it.

Connect Dahua Camera to homekit

Does Dahua Camera work with Homekit?

Unfortunately, Dahua does not support Apple Homekit natively. Dahua offers a variety of camera products. Which includes the NVR, IPC, HDCVI, HCVR, PTZ, Thermal, and so on. These cameras are capable of integrating with various smart home systems. Such as Control4 Drivers, DMSS App, PIXIE, and Home Assistant. But None of the Dahua cameras have built-in compatibility for Homekit.

However, Do not worry We have some Amazing workarounds, that can help you connect the Dahua camera to Homekit. Continue reading below to find out the ways to connect Dahua to Homekit.

Read out: Add Blink to Homekit

How to connect Dahua Camera to Homekit?

In order to connect Dahua to Homekit, you will need to make sure to follow at least one method mentioned below. The process of integrating into Apple Homekit via the Alternatives is different depending on the way you choose. Make sure that you have a connected Internet /wifi source connected to your devices in use.

  • Firstly, Install and Set up your Dahua Camera. Ensure to turn it on. 

There are 5 ways in which you can Connect Dahua Camera to Homekit;

  • Scrypted.
  • Home Assistant.
  • Homebridge.
  • HOOBS.
  • OpenHab.

NOTE: The Dahua and Amcrest are manufactured by the Same brand.It is pretty much same and works on Same API .So,You can use the Same methods to connect Amcrest to Homekit.

Find Best Homekit Camera 

Dahua Camera to Homekit via Scrypted

Through Scrypted, you can add a camera from any brand and then integrate it into Apple Homekit.On Scrypted, All you need to do is find a perfect Plugin for your camera and install it. You can add both Local and Clod Cameras. Follow the below steps to connect Dahua Camera to Homekit via Scrypted.

Install and Configure Dahua on Scrypted

Dahua Camera to homekit

  • Firstly, Install the Scrypted and Set it up.
  • Configure your Camera as required to be compatible with Homekit on Scrypted.
  • For Amcrest Dahua, you can configure the audio codec on all the streams to AAC – 8000.

 Add Dahua Camera to Scrypted 

Dahua Camera to homekit via Scrypted

  • Now,  Navigate to the Scrypted Management Console.
  • Select the Plugins option on the sidebar.
  • Type and Search for Amcrest ( as the Amcrest plugin works with Dahua cameras ).
  • Install the Amcrest Plugin which supports two-way audio too.
  • If you have a camera that has Zoom/Pan or Tilt features – Do install the ONVIF Plugin to enable it.

Verify your Dahua Camera 

  • Once the Plugin is installed, Select your Dahua Camera on the Scrypted Management Console.
  • Take a look at the Snapshot, Video, Audio, Sensors, Motion detection on EVENTS Card, etc.
  • Tap on Console to view the logs of your cameras.
  • Complete verification and then move on to add and stream it onto Apple Homekit.

Add Dahua Camera to Homekit on Home App

Install the Homekit Plugin and All your devices on Scrypted will be integrated. Check out here and  Connect Dahua Camera from Scrypted to Homekit.

Connect Dahua Camera to Homekit Via Home Assistant 

On Home Assistant, The Amcrest Camera Integration allows to you add Dahua IP Cameras, NVRs, DVRs, and Doorbells. You can either install it with HACS or do it manually.

WITH HACS 

  • Open HACS>Tap on Integrations >Explore and Add Repositories>Search Dahua>Install repositories in HACS. (OR ) Add and edit your configuration. yaml file  by adding ;
amcrest:
  - host: IP_ADDRESS_CAMERA
    username: YOUR_USERNAME
    password: YOUR_PASSWORD
  • Restart Home Assistant to save the changes.
  • Go to Configurations>Integrations>Add > Dahua > Configure camera.

MANUAL SETUP AND CONFIGURATION

  • On your Home Assistant, Select menu >Choose Configuration.
  • Tap on Integration>Add Integration>Search Dahua> Configure.
  • Enter your required credentials.
  • Finally, Your Dahua camera and streams are added to Home Assistant.
  • To stream your Dahua Camera to Homekit on the Home app. Install the Homekit bridge and Integrate. Here is how you can easily Integrate Home Assistant to Homekit

Homebridge Plugin for Dahua camera to Homekit

Unfortunately, With the Dahua Homebridge plugin, you can only get the motion alerts of your camera stream. You will need to install the  homebridge-camera-ffmpeg for your Dahua Camera.

  • Install Homebridgeand Install  homebridge-camera-ffmpeg
  • Configure the RTSP Streams -port HTTP, motion, motion timeout, local HTTP, etc.
  • Now, install the Homebridge dahua alerts.
  • Start configuring your Camera and NVR Settings.
  • Complete the configuration using your credentials.
  • Once done, Connect Homebridge to Homekit to get Dahua on Apple Home.

Check out: Onvis To Homekit

HOOBS

You can also use the same plugin on HOOBS, Install and configure your camera as required. Complete the configuration and then add HOOBS to Homekit to get the Dahua Camera streams to display on the Home app.

On Apple Home App>Add Accessory>Scan code >Connect > Find the cameras on the app. Live Stream, manage and adjust the settings of your camera.

Wrap up 

Among the Alternatives above connect Dahua Camera to Homekit.The two best alternatives which I recommend are Home Assistant and Scrypted. You can add your cameras to the Smart Home platforms effortlessly. Make sure that whichever Third Party Software or Hardware you are using is up to date. Then, Connect it to Apple Homekit through the Apple Home app. You will now be able to access control, create automation, Stream Live motions, and get alerts anywhere anytime on your iPhone/iPad.

Similar Cameras: Reolink and Hikvision

Add Dahua Camera to Homekit through OpenHab

Add Dahua Camera to Homekit through OpenHab

The OpenHab IP Camera binding, allows users to use the IP Cameras in Openhab and unlock its features. Since OpenHab can also be connected to Homekit, you can add Dahua Binding on OpenHab to proceed.

  • Set up OpenHab and Install the IP Camera Binding Add-ons for Dahua on OpenHab.
  • You can use this binding to set up all Dahua and Amcrest Cameras to get the newer features. Since the API is the same.
  • Dahua on Openhab also supports MJPEG, Set the Sub stream from default to mjpegUrl (Valid  URL for MJPEG Streams).
  • Once done, Connect Openhab to Homekit.

Here are some example sitemap configuration codes you can use;

String BabyCamGotoPreset "Goto Preset" { channel="ipcamera:dahua:BabyCamera:gotoPreset" }
Dimmer BabyCamPan "Pan [%d] left/right" { channel="ipcamera:dahua:BabyCamera:pan" }
Dimmer BabyCamTilt "Tilt [%d] up/down" { channel="ipcamera:dahua:BabyCamera:tilt" }
Dimmer BabyCamZoom "Zoom [%d] in/out" { channel="ipcamera:dahua:BabyCamera:zoom" }


To prevent the use of RTSP Streams, you can use GIFPreroll;

Number Doorbell_recordingGif "Update GIF" { channel="ipcamera:dahua:DoorCam:recordingGif" }

rule "Create front door camera GIF when front doorbell button pushed"
when
    Item FrontDoorbellButton changed to ON
then
    //Start creating the GIF
    getActions("ipcamera", "ipcamera:dahua:DoorCam").recordGIF("ipcamera",5)
    //Cast a doorbell sound using the Chromecast binding.
    KitchenHomeHubPlayURI.sendCommand("http://192.168.1.8:8080/static/doorbell.mp3")
end

rule "Send doorbell GIF via Pushover"
when
    Item Doorbell_recordingGif changed to 0
then
    sendPushoverMessage(pushoverBuilder("Sending GIF from backyard").withApiKey("dsfhghj6546fghfg").withUser("qwerty54657").withDevice("Phone1").withAttachment("/tmpfs/DoorCam/ipcamera.gif"))

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